largefeature

Alberta political veterans say the NDP’s proposed changes to election financing rules will shift the landscape dramatically in future election campaigns, though they differ on how the impact will be felt. As the special legislature committee on ethics and accountability has met over the last month, NDP MLAs have brought forward proposals that will limit donations, put […]

In March, a small group of Calgary parents piled into a vehicle and drove 300 kilometres north on the Queen Elizabeth 2 Highway to the provincial legislature in Edmonton. The four carried with them a stack of papers containing roughly 5,000 signatures desperately petitioning the province for new school facilities to address overcrowding in Calgary schools.

The gloves are coming off in Alberta’s byelection battle as charges and counter-charges fly among political parties. Alberta Party strategist Stephen Carter said Friday the party had filed a complaint with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission regarding the use of an automated dialing system by the Progressive Conservative campaign in Calgary-Elbow.

As Premier Jim Prentice announced limits on severance packages for senior political staffers in his inner circle, the opposition Wildrose party said the government’s accountability moves don’t go far enough. Prentice said Monday he made the changes in response to the outrage that greeted lavish payouts to staffers who worked for former premier Alison Redford — including a $130,000 severance for former chief of staff Stephen Carter for six months’ work.

In the wake of Thursday’s damning auditor general report, PC president Jim McCormick said the party will pay back $6,500 to cover costs of three government aircraft flights that former premier Alison Redford took to partisan events. McCormick said the Progressive Conservative party will reach out to its grassroots members and work hard to regain their trust following the scandal — but Wildrose MLA Kerry Towle said after more than four decades in power, the PCs are in “desperation mode” and won’t recover soon from the latest scandal.

Calgary ring road: In a historic deal more than 50 years in the making, Alberta inked an agreement last fall with the Tsuu T’ina Nation to complete the final leg of Calgary’s ring road — a project that’s expected to ease traffic gridlock, but ring in at $5 billion. With multiple failed attempts in the past to reach a deal, and driver frustration mounting over nightmare commutes, the agreement is a feather in the cap of Redford, who represents Calgary-Elbow a riding that will be affected by the freeway.

EDMONTON — Four Alberta deputy ministers took home more than $1.7 million in severance between them in 2012 — part of a $6.2-million executive payout one opposition critic blasted Thursday as “highway robbery.” The civil service severance payoff doesn’t even include the $476,942 in termination pay owed to a fifth deputy minister, who is recorded on the Redford government’s new sunshine list as having taken only $40,000 last year.

EDMONTON — Alison Redford’s two top advisers pulled in more than $700,000 between them last year, and the massive public affairs bureau she oversees is loaded with dozens of specialists earning more than $100,000 a year, according to figures revealed Friday as a result of the premier’s promised disclosure policy. Executive Council Deputy Minister Peter Watson ($342,630) and Redford’s chief of staff Farouk Adatia ($357,706) were the top earners in executive council on the new sunshine list that the Tory government touts as the “gold standard” of disclosure policy in Canada.

Opposition parties accused Premier Alison Redford of rewarding a political ally while making a bad deal for Albertans as further details became public around the $130,000 severance paid to her former chief of staff for six months of work. On Friday, Stephen Carter’s severance agreement was posted online by a Global Television reporter, who received it through a freedom of information request.

All Alberta government employees who earn more than $100,000 in base pay annually will soon have their salaries disclosed as the province publishes a “sunshine list” on civil service compensation. By the end of January, the province will create an online list showing compensation for government employees in 2012 and 2013, including their salaries and other benefits.

As he went door-knocking up and down Hawkwood Drive in Ward 2, Joe Magliocca didn’t spend much more than a minute at most doors. He greeted residents by the name on his list, gave his own quick pitch, asked if he could put up a campaign sign, took their phone and e-mail details, and jogged to the next door.

As controversy swirls over severance payments made inside Premier Alison Redford’s office, the Tory government vows it will soon publish a “sunshine list” disclosing salaries and severance for all its senior officials.

Well, some clarity at last. Stephen Carter reveals in a tweet that he got $130,000 in severance pay for six months work as Premier Alison Redford’s chief of staff.
After many objections by both Carter and the government, and a lot of burned-up time by the privacy office and the public service commission, Carter just came out with it in a tweet on Friday morning.

The shakeup in Premier Alison Redford’s communications office is continuing with the departure of two more staffers, including her communications director, Jay O’Neill. Stefan Baranski, who serves as Redford’s director of strategic communications, confirmed O’Neill’s departure on Wednesday and said the government would issue a release on changes in the office later this week.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.